Assurance is the glue that holds all the doctrines of salvation together. Therefore, every doctrine th
at Paul teaches in his letter to the Romans proves that the salvation God provides is forever. Man in his sinful condition could never merit heaven anymore than he could create himself. It is only man’s sinful pride that tells him something different. God is the only eternal being, the only One that has always been, therefore, and as the source of life, He is the only one that can guarantee an eternal salvation.
“But Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who dra
w near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:24, 25
As important as assurance is to salvation in Christ, there is one truth that trumps even eternal security, and that is the righteousness of God. Some cannot ignore the fact that the world had to be created, as in the case of Albert Einstein who said, “There has to be a God, because nothing creates nothing.” He still could not believe in the Judaeo/Christian God, for he could not reconcile evil in the world with a God that is good.
Paul in his letter to the Romans set out to prove that God is righteous in all He does, which means that God is in the right. The main theme of the letter to the Romans is the righteousness of God.
“For I am not
ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16, 17
“I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.” Psalm 71:16